This south Asian country is on the Bay of Bengal with its lush greenery and many waterways. Boats are important mode of transportation on the Padma (Ganges), Meghina and Jamuna rivers.

The southern coast, the Sundarbans, is an enormous mangrove forest shared with India and is the home of the Royal Bengal tiger.

The Ganges forms the largest tide-dominated delta in the world where it empties into the Bay of Bengal.

Cox’s Bazar is the world’s longest beach on the east coast and its tourist business is increasing

Sports

Kabaddi is their national sport. Cricket and football are their most popular sports. Badminton and chess are also popular.

Animals

The Bengal tiger is the national symbol.

Dolphins and otters, the Chital deer, Hoolock gibbon, the wild Asian elephant, the saltwater crocodile, and many indigenous mammals and birds are living there

Facts of Interest

Muslim settlement began in the 10th century primarily from Arab and Persian traders and preachers

Europeans began trading posts in the 16th century with Hindu in the West and mostly Muslim in the East or Bengal area

Formerly East Pakistan, Bangladesh came into being in 1971 when 2 parts of Pakistan split after a bitter war that drew in India. They spent 15 years under military rule and, although democracy was restored in 1991, the political scene remains volatile.

Now it is a republic with an elected parliament

Concerns

This area has major infectious diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, dengue fever, leptospirosis and rabies in animals

It is one of the world’s poorest countries, so poverty is deep and widespread

Health and education are slowly improving but clean water is a continuing problem

Any low area is badly affected by flooding and any rise in sea level, so global warming will have a real impact here

Islamic extremism has been rising here and is a major concern

Mission

The PCUSA works with the Church of Bangladesh and provides financial support of Christian Mission Hospital in Rajshahi.

There are many ethnic, tribal, theological and discrimination issues in this country .which contribute to divisions and difficulty in their mission and care